Five men were arrested for allegedly running an illegal arms factory in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut city and 84 pistols were seized from their possession, police said Tuesday.
The accused persons used to bring raw materials from Munger and manufactured pistols by assembling parts at their unit in Meerut and then supplied them in Delhi and adjoining areas of Haryana, they added.
Two of the accused persons were arrested following a brief exchange of fire.
The accused persons were identified as Mohammad Shaidulla (37), Mohammad Shabir (32), Mohammad Intiaz (29), Mohammad Obayed (33) and Nasim (25).
While Nasim is a native of Meerut, others are residents of Munger in Bihar.
Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap near Singhu border on the National Highway-1 where the accused persons had come to deliver a huge consignment of pistols to their clients on Monday, a senior officer said.
Subsequently, when the police spotted a silver colour car approaching the spot, they signalled them to stop the vehicle.
But Shaidulla, who was driving the car, tried to pass the police barricade and even whipped out his pistol and fired upon the police team.
In retaliation, the police fired and overpowered the two accused persons who were identified as Shaidulla and Nasim.
Sixty-three pistols were seized from their possession, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav.
Later, another raid was conducted at a house owned by Furkan in Meerut and the three other accused persons -- Mohammad Shabir, Mohammad Intiaz and Mohammad Obayed -- were nabbed.
The police seized 19 more illegal pistols along with raw materials used in preparation of illegal firearms from their possession, Yadav said.
During interrogation, it was revealed that Shaidulla with the help of Furkan used to run an illegal firearms manufacturing factory in Meerut.
In order to avoid detection, Shaidulla along with his three labourers, used to bring raw materials from Munger and manufactured pistols by assembling parts at their unit in Meerut and then supplied them in Delhi and adjoining areas of Haryana.
The labourers used to make at least two weapons per day and were paid Rs 2,000 per firearm, the DCP said.
The accused used to supply firearms to criminals and used to charge Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per weapon.
A stolen car with a fake number plate used for carrying weapons was also recovered, he added.
Shaidulla has been involved in manufacturing illegal arms for the last 15 years. He began by assembling and manufacturing illegal arms at an early age and has been supplying illegal pistols to his associate Furkan for last five years, the police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
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